U.S. patent application number 10/183718 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-09 for scanning laser microscope and external signal recording method.
This patent application is currently assigned to OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Takamizawa, Nobuhiro.
Application Number | 20030007073 10/183718 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19040649 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030007073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takamizawa, Nobuhiro |
January 9, 2003 |
Scanning laser microscope and external signal recording method
Abstract
A scanning laser microscope is configured to include: a scanner
unit for performing two-dimensional scanning on a specimen using a
light beam; a photodetector unit for detecting a light from the
specimen; an A/D converter for converting an output signal from the
photodetector unit into a digital signal; a CPU for controlling the
scanner unit and generating image data of the specimen from the
digital signal output from the A/D converter; a display unit for
displaying the image data; an external device for outputting an
external signal; and a data storage unit, connected to the external
device, for recording the time when the external signal is output.
With the configuration, the data stored in the data storage unit
can be read by the CPU.
Inventors: |
Takamizawa, Nobuhiro;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRISHAUF, HOLTZ, GOODMAN & CHICK, PC
767 THIRD AVENUE
25TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017-2023
US
|
Assignee: |
OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
19040649 |
Appl. No.: |
10/183718 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/79 ; 348/195;
348/E7.085 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 21/0024 20130101;
G02B 21/008 20130101; H04N 7/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/79 ;
348/195 |
International
Class: |
H04N 009/47; H04N
007/18; H04N 003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 4, 2001 |
JP |
2001-204142 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A scanning laser microscope, comprising: a scanner unit
performing two-dimensional scanning on a specimen using a light
beam; a photodetector unit detecting a light from the specimen; an
A/D converter converting an output signal from said photodetector
unit into a digital signal; a CPU controlling said scanner unit and
generating image data of the specimen from the digital signal
output from said A/D converter; a display unit displaying the image
data; an external device outputting an external signal; and a data
storage unit, connected to said external device, recording a time
when the external signal is output, wherein the data stored in said
data storage unit can be read by said CPU.
2. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 1, wherein said
data storage unit performs the recording operation independent of
the CPU.
3. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 1, wherein said
external device is a specimen stimulus device for providing a
stimulus for the specimen, and the output signal output by the
specimen stimulus device includes a trigger signal for notification
of the given stimulus.
4. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 3, wherein said
specimen stimulus device includes an electric stimulus device.
5. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 3, wherein said
specimen stimulus device includes a chemicals applying device.
6. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 1, wherein said
external device is a detector for detecting a state of the
specimen, and an external signal output by said detector includes a
detection signal indicating the state of the specimen.
7. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 1, wherein said
data storage unit records the external signal and a time when the
external signal is generated in synchronization with a sampling
clock in said A/D converter.
8. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 1, wherein said
display unit displays data read by said CPU.
9. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 1, further
comprising: a second display unit displaying the data read by said
CPU.
10. A scanning laser microscope, comprising: a scanner unit
performing two-dimensional scanning on a specimen using a light
beam; a photodetector unit detecting a light from the specimen; an
A/D converter converting an output signal from said photodetector
unit into a digital signal; a CPU controlling said scanner unit and
generating image data of the specimen from the digital signal
output from said A/D converter; a display unit displaying the image
data; an electric stimulus device applying a stimulus to the
specimen, and outputting a trigger signal for notification of a
given stimulus; a data storage unit, connected to said electric
stimulus device, recording a time when the trigger signal is output
during scanning using the light beam, wherein the data stored in
said data storage unit is read by said CPU after scanning using the
light beam.
11. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 10, wherein
said CPU reads the data stored in said data storage unit, performs
a visualizing process, and displays a result on a display unit.
12. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 11, wherein
said data storage unit comprises a latch unit latching the trigger
signal in synchronization with a sampling clock in said A/D
converter.
13. The scanning laser microscope according to claim 11, wherein
said data storage unit comprises a memory unit storing the trigger
signal in synchronization with a sampling clock in said A/D
converter.
14. A method for storing an external signal, comprising: an
external signal output from an external device and a time when the
external signal is input are stored in a data storage unit
operating independent of a CPU, which performs at least a control
process of two-dimensional scanning on a specimen using a light
beam and a process of generating image data from an electric signal
obtained by performing a photoelectric converting process on a
light from the specimen, when the CPU is in a high load state; and
the external signal output from said external device and the time
when the external signal is input, which are stored in said data
storage unit, are read by said CPU from said data storage unit when
the CPU is in a low load state.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the technology applied to
the technological field of a scanning laser microscope.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, a scanning laser microscope has been well
known as an apparatus for irradiating a specimen (sample) with a
light beam from a light source for two-dimensional scanning,
detecting a light (a reflected light, a transmission light,
fluorescence, etc.) from the specimen using a photodetector,
converting the detected light into an electric signal by a
photoelectric transducer, and obtaining image data.
[0005] Briefly described below is the configuration and the
operation of the conventional scanning laser microscope.
[0006] A specimen is irradiated with a light beam from a light
source for two-dimensional scanning, a light (a reflected light, a
transmission light, fluorescence, etc.) depending on the material
and the shape of the specimen is detected by a photodetector, and
the detected light is converted into an electric signal by a
photoelectric transducer. Then, a converted electric signal is
converted into image data which is a digital signal by an A/D
converter, and the obtained image data is stored in the image
memory. An image based on the image data stored in the image memory
is displayed on a display unit of a computer.
[0007] Thus, when a specimen is observed using a scanning laser
microscope, an image of the specimen is obtained by obtaining image
data depending on the specimen, and simultaneously, for example, it
can be necessary to measure and store the reaction of a target
under observation (specimen) such as a cell, etc. which changes
with time in a given period by a change of the temperature or the
stimulus given to the cell.
[0008] In this case, the CPU of a computer controlling the scanning
laser microscope performs the process of controlling a scanning
laser microscope such as light beam scanning, etc., manipulating
image data, transferring and displaying an image of the image data,
etc., records the data obtained from an external detector (various
sensors, etc.), various input device, etc. in real time, performs a
visualizing process by preparing a graph, etc. from the recorded
data as necessary, and displays the result on the display device
connected to the computer. The data obtained from the above
mentioned external detector, various input device, etc. is an
example of an external signal, and can be referred to as an event
signal.
[0009] As described above, the CPU which enters a high load state
by simultaneously performing various processes such as light beam
scanning, fetching image data, etc. is sometimes incapable of
immediately responding to an event signal. As a result, there can
be undesired delay between the timing in inputting an event signal,
that is, the timing in generating the event signal, and the timing
in recording the event signal.
[0010] If an event signal (including an interruption signal, etc.)
is input into the CPU in the high load state during the
two-dimensional scanning in the conventional scanning laser
microscope, then the CPU cannot immediately respond to the signal,
and there occurs a delay between the time when the event signal
occurs and the time when a response is returned.
[0011] Regarding the problem, for example, Japanese Patent
Laid-open No. Hei 8-287860 discloses the technology of improving
the response time from the start of an operation to due control by
directly providing a SEM (scanning electronic microscope) control
unit with a command relating to a more responsive process when a
SEM control command is issued to the SEM control unit as an
operation signal by input unit such as a keyboard, a mouse,
etc.
[0012] As described above, if the CPU of a computer simultaneously
performs various processes such as control of the scanning laser
microscope by light beam scanning, etc., manipulation of image
data, monitor of various sensors, storage and process of signals
obtained from various sensors, etc., then a heavy load is applied
to the CPU, for example, the CPU cannot immediately respond to
signals (event signals) from various sensors, and there occurs a
delay between the time when the signals from various sensors are
generated and the time when the signals are stored.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention has been developed to solve the above
mentioned problem, and the scanning laser microscope according to
the first aspect of the present invention is configured to include:
a scanner unit for performing two-dimensional scanning on a
specimen using a light beam; a photodetector unit for detecting a
light from the specimen; an A/D converter for converting an output
signal from the photodetector unit into a digital signal; a CPU for
controlling the scanner unit and generating image data of the
specimen from the digital signal output from the A/D converter; a
display unit for displaying the image data; an external device for
outputting an external signal; and a data storage unit, connected
to the external device, for recording the time when the external
signal is output. With the configuration, the data stored in the
data storage unit can be read by the CPU.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of the scanning
laser microscope according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of the data
storage unit;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a data reading
process from the data storage unit;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows an example of a configuration of the scanning
laser microscope including an electric stimulus device;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a time chart showing image data, a trigger signal,
a signal from a sensor 21, and a counter value obtained in
synchronization with a sampling clock;
[0019] FIG. 6 shows the second example of a configuration of the
data storage unit; and
[0020] FIG. 7 shows the third example of a configuration of the
data storage unit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] The embodiments of the present invention are described below
by referring to the attached drawings.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of the scanning
laser microscope according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] The scanning laser microscope comprises a light source 1, a
scanner 2 for a confocal microscope, an object lens 3, a stage 4, a
photodetector 5, a photoelectric transducer 6, an A/D converter 7,
a computer (PC) 8 provided with a CPU 9, frame memory 10, a display
device 11, a storage medium 13 storing (recording) a control
program 12, a data storage device 14, and a detector 15 which is an
external device (external connection unit).
[0024] A light beam from the light source 1 is emitted from the
object lens 3, the scanner 2 for a confocal microscope scans a
specimen (sample) placed on the stage 4 in a two-dimensional
scanning process, the photodetector 5 detects the light (a
reflected light, a transmission light, or fluorescence, etc.)
depending on the material and the shape of the specimen, and
photoelectric transducer 6 converts the detected light into an
electric signal. The A/D converter 7 is connected to the CPU 9 of
the computer 8, and converts an electric signal converted by the
photoelectric transducer 6 into image data which is a digital
signal.
[0025] The obtained image data is stored in the frame memory 10
connected to the CPU 9. The image data stored in the frame memory
10 is then read by the computer 8 and an image based on the image
data is displayed on the display device 11.
[0026] The detector 15 is connected to the data storage device 14,
and the data storage device 14 is connected to the CPU 9 of the
computer 8.
[0027] The CPU 9 controls the operations of the entire scanning
laser microscope including the detector 15 by reading and executing
the control program 12 stored in the storage medium 13.
[0028] It is also possible to store the control program 12, which
is now stored in the storage medium 13, in a portable storage
medium such as CD-ROM, a floppy disk, etc., read the control
program 12 stored in the portable storage medium by the CPU 9, and
control the operations. Otherwise, the control program 12 can be
stored in the storage medium of the external device such as a
server device, etc. the computer 8 communicates with the server
device, and the control program 12 can be read from the storage
medium and executed, thereby controlling the operations.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of the data
storage device 14.
[0030] In FIG. 2, the n sensors 21 (hereinafter the n sensor 21 can
also be referred to simply as the sensors 21) provided for the
detector 15 connected to the data storage device 14 are connected
to a latch circuit 23 through n signal lines 22.
[0031] The sensors 21 can be, for example, a sensor for detecting a
temperature, a sensor for detecting pH, a sensor for detecting a
flow rate, a sensor for detecting Co, a sensor for detecting a
signal from an external device, a sensor for detecting a signal of
a manual switch, etc. A signal output from the sensors 21 is an
example of an external signal, and can also be referred to as an
event signal.
[0032] The latch circuit 23 and an address counter 28 are connected
to the CPU 9.
[0033] A counter circuit 24 is connected to the latch circuit 23
through m signal lines 25, and the latch circuit 23 is connected to
memory 27 and the CPU 9 through m+n signal lines 26.
[0034] The counter circuit 24, the latch circuit 23, the memory 27,
and the address counter 28 operate in synchronization with a
sampling clock when the electric signal converted by the
photoelectric transducer 6 is converted into image data which is a
digital signal.
[0035] The latch circuit 23 latches the m+n bit data from the
sensors 21 and the counter circuit 24 at the same timing as the
sampling clock, that is, in synchronization with the sampling
clock, and stores the latched data in the memory 27.
[0036] The address counter 28 counts the address of the memory 27
in synchronization with the sampling clock, and designates the
storage address of the data in the memory 27.
[0037] The memory 27 stores the m+n bit data from the latch circuit
23 at the address designated by the address counter 28 in
synchronization with the sampling clock.
[0038] The CPU 9 for executing the control program 12 reads data
stored in the memory 27 at any timing when the load of the CPU 9 is
reduced, for example, after the light beam scanning is completed,
etc., performs a visualizing process such as preparing a graph,
etc., and displays the data on the display device 11 after the
visualizing process.
[0039] According to the present embodiment, it is possible to
simultaneously or individually display the data after the
visualizing process and the image based on the above mentioned
image data. For example, the data after the visualizing process can
be displayed on a display unit different from the display device
11. Thus, the data after the visualizing process can be displayed
on the display unit, and the image based on the above mentioned
image data can be displayed on the display device 11.
[0040] Described below is the process of reading data from the data
storage device 14, which is one of the control processes realized
by the CPU 9 reading and executing the control program 12 stored in
the storage medium 13.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of
reading data from the data storage device 14.
[0042] In FIG. 3, in step S1, the CPU 9 for executing the control
program 12 issues a data read instruction to the data storage
device 14.
[0043] In step S2, it is determined whether or not data is stored
in the memory 27. If the determination result is YES, then control
is passed to step S3. If the determination result is NO, then
control is passed to step S8, and the process flow terminates.
[0044] In step S3, the data having an m+n bit data width stored in
the memory 27 is read. As described above, in the data having an
m+n bit data width, m-bit data indicates a counter value, and n-bit
data indicates a signal from the sensor 21.
[0045] In step S4, based on the data having an m+n bit data width
read in the previous step, the generation time of the signal from
the sensor 21 is computed. The computation is performed by the
following equation (1).
Time=(1/S)*C equation (1)
[0046] where Time indicates the generation time of a signal from
the sensor 21 (the elapsed time from the start of scanning to the
generation of an external signal); S indicates a sampling clock;
and C indicates a counter value (m-bit data). Thus, since the
generation time of the signal from the sensors 21 is obtained based
on the counter value, the counter value can be considered to
indicate the generation time of the signal from the sensors 21.
[0047] When the computation of the generation time of the signal
from the sensors 21 is completed, the memory address for read of
the next data having an m+n bit data width from the memory 27 is
stepped up by 1.
[0048] In step S5, it is determined whether or not the data having
an m+n bit data width has completely been read. If the
determination result is Yes, then control is passed to step S6. If
the determination result is NO, then control is returned to step
S3, and the processes of reading the above mentioned data, etc. are
repeated.
[0049] In step S6, the visualizing process such as preparing a
graph, etc. is performed according to the generation time of the
signal from the sensor 21 computed in step S4 as obtained from the
data having an m+n bit data width read in step S3, and the signal
(n-bit data) from the sensor 21.
[0050] In step S7, data is displayed on the display device 11 based
on the visualizing process in the previous step, and control is
passed to step S8, thereby terminating the process flow.
[0051] Described below is the operation performed when an image of
a specimen is obtained, for example, by obtaining image data
corresponding to the image of a specimen (the image of a sample) in
the scanning laser microscope with the configuration as described
above, and simultaneously recording the signal from an external
device by referring to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0052] However, practically described below is an example, that is,
the case in which an electric stimulus is applied to a target
specimen under observation, and a physiological reaction on the
specimen to the electric stimulus is recorded as time-series
images.
[0053] The operation is realized by the CPU 9 reading the control
program 12 stored in the storage medium 13.
[0054] FIG. 4 shows an example of a configuration of the scanning
laser microscope including an electric stimulus device.
[0055] In FIG. 4, an electric stimulus device 41 is connected which
is an external device to the data storage device 14. The electric
stimulus device 41 applies an electric stimulus to a specimen, and
outputs a trigger signal when it applies the electric stimulus. The
output trigger signal is directly input into the latch circuit 23
of the data storage device 14, and the latch circuit 23 can latch
the trigger signal. The trigger signal is an example of an external
signal, and can be referred to as an event signal.
[0056] The electric stimulus device 41 can be controlled by the CPU
9 reading the control program 12 stored in the storage medium 13,
or can operate independent of the CPU.
[0057] The sensors 21 of the detector 15 shown in FIG. 4 detects a
physiological reaction of a specimen when the electric stimulus
device 41 applies an electric stimulus to the specimen. However,
only in this example, the total number of sensors 21 of the
detector 15 is n-1, and it is assumed that output from the n-1
sensors 21 is input into the latch circuit 23.
[0058] Otherwise, the configuration is as shown in FIG. 1.
[0059] FIG. 5 is a time chart of image data, a trigger signal, a
signal from the sensors 21, and a counter value obtained in
synchronization with a sampling clock. In FIG. 5, an electric
stimulus device indicates a trigger signal output from the electric
stimulus device 41, a detector indicates a signal from the sensors
21 output from the detector 15, and a counter indicates a counter
value (C).
[0060] As shown in FIG. 5, the scanning laser microscope records
various data in synchronization with a sampling clock which is a
reference signal for recording.
[0061] For example, when the two-dimensional scanning is performed
on the specimen and the signal from the photodetector 5 is
converted into the image data which is a digital signal by the
photoelectric transducer 6, the image data is stored in the frame
memory 10 for each frame. Then, the image data is read as necessary
and displayed on the display device 11.
[0062] If the electric stimulus device 41 applies an electric
stimulus to a specimen at the time T1 during the scanning on the
specimen, then a trigger signal output from the electric stimulus
device 41 is recorded for the tie T1, the sensors 21 of the
detector 15 detects the physiological reaction of the specimen at
and after the time T1, a signal from the sensors 21 is stored in
synchronization with a sampling clock.
[0063] In the example shown in FIG. 5, a trigger signal is output
by the electric stimulus device 41 applying an electric stimulus to
the specimen at the time T1, and the trigger signal is stored by
the data storage device 14.
[0064] By the sensors 21 of the detector 15 detecting the
physiological reaction of a specimen generated by an electric
stimulus at the time T1, the signal from the sensors 21 depending
on the detection is stored in the data storage device 14.
[0065] The above mentioned operation is described below further in
detail.
[0066] The latch circuit 23 latches the n-1 bit data which is a
signal from the n-1 sensors 21, the 1-bit data which is a trigger
signal from the electric stimulus device 41, and the counter value
C (m-bit data) in synchronization with a sampling clock, and
outputs the latched data to the memory 27.
[0067] Thus, each piece of data each having an m+n bit data width
at and after the time T1 is stored in the memory 27.
[0068] When the load of the CPU 9 is reduced, for example, when the
light beam scanning, etc. is completed, the CPU 9 reads the data
having an m+n bit data width stored in the memory 27 of the data
storage device 14 at an arbitrary timing, and extracts m-bit data
indicating the counter value C, a trigger signal, and n-bit data
which is a signal from the sensors 21.
[0069] The CPU 9 obtains the time when the trigger signal is output
when the electric stimulus device 41 applies a electric stimulus to
the specimen, and the time when the signal from the sensors 21 is
generated as a physiological reaction of the specimen detected by
the detector 15 using the counter value which is the extracted
m-bit data and the sampling clock by the above mentioned equation
(1).
[0070] By computing using the equation (1) the time changed from
the trigger signal and the signal from the sensors 21 for all data
(all data having an m+n bit data width) stored in the memory 27
from the start of scanning the specimen to the end of the scanning,
the time-series data relating to the change of the trigger signal
and the signal from the sensors 21 from the start to the end of the
scanning can be obtained.
[0071] Then, the visualizing process performed on the obtained
time-series data, for example, a process of preparing a graph, etc.
is performed, and the visualized data is displayed on the display
device 11.
[0072] In the above mentioned operation, by storing the trigger
signal and the signal from the sensors 21 and the counter value
indicating the time when the signal is generated in the memory 27,
it is not necessary for the CPU 9 to constantly monitor the change
of a signal from the sensors 21 and record the signals.
[0073] Therefore, although the CPU 9 performs a heavy load process
such as the control process of the scanning laser microscope such
as a light beam scanning process, etc., or an image data process,
etc., a trigger signal and a signal from the sensors 21 can be
correctly recorded without generating a delay between the
generation of the trigger signal and the signal from the sensors 21
and the records of the signals.
[0074] In the above mentioned operation, the trigger signal and the
signal from the sensors 21 are recorded in synchronization with the
sampling clock when the electric signal converted by the
photoelectric transducer 6 is converted into image data which is a
digital signal. Therefore, the generation times of the trigger
signal and the signal from the sensors 21 during the scanning on
the specimen, the points on the specimen corresponding to the
times, the state of the signal from the sensors 21 at the time, the
time from the start of the scanning to the time when the trigger
signal and the signal from the sensors 21 are generated can be
easily obtained.
[0075] In an example of an operation explained by referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5, excluding the detector 15, the latch circuit 23 can
be configured such that only the trigger signal output from the
electric stimulus device 41 and the output signal of the counter
circuit 24 can be latched.
[0076] Furthermore, in an example of an operation explained by
referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the electric stimulus device 41 is used
as an external device for applying a stimulus to a specimen. A
chemicals applying device for applying a stimulus to a specimen by
applying chemicals to a specimen can also be used as the external
device. However, in this case, the chemicals applying device is a
device for applying chemicals to a specimen, and a trigger signal
is output when the chemicals are applied.
[0077] In an example of an operation explained above by referring
to FIGS. 4 and 5, the electric stimulus device 41 is connected to
the data storage device 14, and a trigger signal output from the
electric stimulus device 41 is input into the latch circuit 23 of
the data storage device 14. For example, the electric stimulus
device 41 can be connected to the detector 15 such that the trigger
signal output from the electric stimulus device 41 can be input
into one of the n sensors 21, and the trigger signal can be input
and latched into the latch circuit 23 of the data storage device 14
as one of the signals from the n sensors 21.
[0078] Described below are other examples of the configurations of
the data storage device 14.
[0079] FIG. 6 shows the second example of a configuration of the
data storage device 14. In FIG. 6, the data storage device 14 is
expressed as 14', and the detector 15 is expressed as 15'.
[0080] The n sensors 21 provided in the detector 15' connected to
the data storage device 14' are connected to a gate circuit 61 and
the latch circuit 23 through the n signal lines 22.
[0081] The gate circuit 61 inverts an output signal when there is a
change in the signal from the sensor 21 input through the signal
line 22. For example, if there is a change in the input signal from
the sensor 21 when the output signal of the gate circuit 61 is "0",
then "1" is output as an output signal.
[0082] The sensor 21 is connected to a latch circuit through the n
signal lines 22, the counter circuit 24 is connected to the latch
circuit 23 through m signal lines 25, and the latch circuit 23 is
connected to the memory 27 and the CPU 9 through the m+n signal
lines 26.
[0083] The latch circuit 23 is also connected to the output of the
gate circuit 61, latches the m+n bit data which is a signal (n-bit
data) from the sensors 21 and a signal (m-bit data) from the
counter circuit 24 in synchronization with the output signal from
the gate circuit 61, and outputs the latched data to the memory
27.
[0084] The memory 27 stores the m+n bit data latched by the latch
circuit 23 at the address specified by the address counter 28.
[0085] The counter circuit 24 steps up the count by 1 in
synchronization with the sampling clock using the sampling clock as
an input signal.
[0086] If any of the signals from the sensors 21 changes, for
example, from "1" into "0" or from "0" into "1", then the output
signal of the gate circuit 61 changes.
[0087] The output signal of the gate circuit 61 is input into the
latch circuit 23, the memory 27, and the address counter 28, and
the latch circuit 23 latches the m+n bit data from the sensors 21
and the counter circuit 24 in synchronization with the output of
the gate circuit 61.
[0088] Each time the output signal of the gate circuit 61 changes,
the address counter 28 updates the address, and designates the
memory 27 of the destination of the data.
[0089] In synchronization with the output signal of the gate
circuit 61, the memory 27 stores the m+n bit data from the latch
circuit 23 at the address designated by the address counter 28.
[0090] A signal line 29 for interruption into the CPU 9 is a signal
line for use in interruption of a signal from the sensors 21 into
the CPU 9 when the signal from the sensors 21 changes. Whether or
not the CPU 9 accept the interruption can be set in advance.
[0091] With the above mentioned configuration of the data storage
device 14', only the counter value indicating the time of the
moment the signal from the sensors 21 changes, that is, the moment
when the change of the signal from the sensors 21 occurs, and the
signal from the sensors 21 at the moment are stored in the memory
27. Therefore, as compared with the configuration of the data
storage device 14 shown in FIG. 2, the amount of data stored in the
memory 27 can be reduced, thereby saving the memory capacity.
[0092] In addition, as described above, the CPU 9 reads data stored
in the memory 27 at any timing when the load of the CPU 9 is
reduced, for example, after the light beam scanning is completed,
etc., performs a visualizing process on the read data, and displays
the visualized data on the display device 11.
[0093] Using the data storage device 14', the operations performed
when an image of a specimen is obtained, and a signal from an
external device is simultaneously stored, are performed as, for
example, the operations described above by referring to FIGS. 4 and
5. However, in this case, the timing of the latch by the latch
circuit 23 is only the moment when the signal from the sensors 21
changes.
[0094] As described above, since the signal from the sensors 21 and
the counter value indicating the time when the signal is generated
are stored in the memory 27 using the data storage device 14' with
the configuration shown in FIG. 6, it is not necessary for the CPU
9 to monitor the signals from the sensors 21 and record the
signals.
[0095] Therefore, although a heavy load process is performed by
controlling a scanning laser microscope such as light beam
scanning, etc., processing an image, etc., there is no delay
between the occurrence of a signal from the sensors 21 and the
record of the signal, thereby correctly recording the signal from
the sensors 21.
[0096] Furthermore, since the latch circuit 23 latches a signal
(n-bit data) from the sensors 21 only when the signal from the
sensors 21 changes, the memory capacity of the memory 27 can be
saved.
[0097] Additionally, since the signal from the sensors 21 is
recorded together with the counter value from the counter circuit
24 operating in synchronization with the sampling clock, the point
on the specimen where a signal is generated from the sensors 21
during the scanning, the state of the signal from the sensors 21
when it is generated, or the time taken from the start of the
scanning to the generation of the signal can be easily
obtained.
[0098] FIG. 7 shows the third example of a configuration of the
data storage device 14.
[0099] In FIG. 7, the data storage device 14 is expressed as 14',
and the detector 15 is expressed as 15'. However, with the
configuration shown in FIG. 7, the memory 27 of the data storage
device 14 shown in FIG. 2 is omitted, and the output data of the
latch circuit 23 is designed to be input into the frame memory
10.
[0100] In FIG. 7, the n sensors 21 provided in the detector 15'
connected to the data storage device 14' are connected to the latch
circuit 23 through the n signal lines 22.
[0101] The counter circuit 24 is connected to the latch circuit 23
through the m signal lines 25, and the latch circuit 23 is
connected to the frame memory 10 and the CPU 9 through the m+n
signal lines 26.
[0102] The address counter 28 is connected to the latch circuit 23,
and to the frame memory 10.
[0103] The photoelectric transducer 6 is connected to the A/D
converter 7, and the A/D converter 7 is connected to the frame
memory 10.
[0104] The counter circuit 24, the latch circuit 23, the frame
memory 10, and the address counter 28 operate in synchronization
with the sampling clock when an electric signal converted by the
photoelectric transducer 6 is converted into image data which is a
digital signal.
[0105] The latch circuit 23 latches the m+n bit data from the
sensors 21 and the counter circuit 24 in synchronization with the
sampling clock, and stores the latched data in the frame memory
10.
[0106] Assuming that the resolution of the A/D converter 7 is X
bits, and the data length of the frame memory 10 is Y bits, the
following equation exists.
Y=(m+n)+X
[0107] The address counter 28 counts the address of the frame
memory 10 in synchronization with the sampling clock, and
designates the frame memory 10 of the destination of the data.
[0108] The frame memory 10 stores m+n bit data from the latch
circuit 23 and the X-bit image data from the A/D converter 7 at the
address designated by the address counter 28 in synchronization
with the sampling clock.
[0109] With the configuration, the frame memory 10 for storing
image data obtained through the photoelectric transducer 6 is used
as the memory for storing the signal from the sensors 21 and the
counter value indicating the generation time of the signal.
Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the memory 27 shown in
FIGS. 2 and 6, thereby simplifying the configuration of the
device.
[0110] Using the data storage device 14' with the configuration
shown in FIG. 7, the operations performed when an image of a
specimen is obtained, and a signal from an external device is
simultaneously stored, are performed as, for example, the
operations described above by referring to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0111] As mentioned above, with the configuration shown in FIG. 7,
a signal from the sensors 21 can be correctly recorded by providing
the data storage device 14' and latching the signal from the
sensors 21 and the counter value in synchronization with the
sampling clock.
[0112] Furthermore, by allowing the frame memory 10 to record the
signal from the sensors 21 and the counter value indicating the
time when the signal is generated, it is not necessary for the CPU
9 for controlling the scanning laser microscope to monitor the
signals from the sensors 21 and record the signals.
[0113] Therefore, although a heavy load process is performed by
controlling a scanning laser microscope such as light beam
scanning, etc., processing an image, etc., there is no delay
between the generation of a signal from the sensors 21 and the
record of the signal, thereby correctly recording the signal from
the sensors 21.
[0114] As described above in detail, according to the present
invention, in the scanning laser microscope, although the CPU is in
the heavy load state by the control of the scanning laser
microscope by obtaining an image of a specimen, scanning a light
beam, etc., a signal from an external device such as a sensor, etc.
can be recorded in real time. Therefore, there can be no delay
between the generation of the signal and the record of the signal.
Furthermore, the point on a specimen when a signal from an external
device is generated, or a time taken from the start of the scanning
to the generation of the signal from the external device can be
easily obtained.
[0115] As described above, the present invention has been described
in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the above
mentioned embodiments, but various improvement and changes can be
obviously permitted in the scope of the gist of the present
invention.
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